393 - Der Traumafänger
Summary
Paula Lieben Lern interviews Steffi, who reflects on a 20-year marriage that ended abruptly when her husband left for another woman. Steffi discusses her childhood trauma, her struggle with inner restlessness, and how she initially coped by overbooking her schedule and using dating apps to avoid solitude. The episode highlights her journey toward learning to sit with negative emotions and finding peace within herself.
Topics discussed
Intro: Steffi's current state of restlessness and avoidance
The 15-year relationship: Diverging paths and growing dissatisfaction
Physical changes, emotional distance, and suppressed doubts
Discovering the affair and the husband's sudden disappearance
Financial control, gaslighting, and the shock of being left with nothing
Childhood trauma: Physical abuse and repeating patterns with her own children
Leaving home, early relationships, and the 'trauma catcher' phase
The role of in-laws and the illusion of stability in the marriage
Using dating and work as distractions from inner emptiness
Learning to sit with silence and processing the lack of parental support
Family dynamics: Sisters' coping mechanisms and co-parenting with the ex
Future goals: Finding balance, self-worth, and breaking generational cycles
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